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SKU: 80042021 Categories: , Tag:

Radford Dale Vinum Chardonnay (2021)

Chardonnay

kr199

Sold in case of 6 x 750ml

29 in stock

Description

Pale gold in colour with vibrant green tinge. Lemon blossom and mandarin notes combine on the nose, while a touch of brioche hints at barrel fermentation. Lively acidity and lemon zest add zip to the palate after which white peach lead into a generously round mid palate. The finish is taut and crisp leaving one with a clean, mineral lift. Alc: 12.5 % pH: 3.36 TA: 5.9g/L RS: 1.7 g/L

In the vineyard

Two ocean facing sites on the foothills of the Helderberg & Polkadraai hills are used for this Chardonnay. The Polkadraai hills vineyard is 22 years old & picked earlier for freshness, with the Heldeberg site, at 11 years of age, picked later for palate weight & texture. The soils are crunchy, granite derived Clovelly. We believe this brings a mineral character to the wine. The sites have uninterrupted views to the sea & the maritime breeze brought in by the south easter. Harvest in 2021 was around 10 days later than the norm, with a smaller crop, but cooler ripening temperatures. We’re thrilled with the concentration & aromatics in this vintage.

In the cellar

The grapes were all hand-picked at dawn into small lug-bins, chilled in our white wine cellar, then hand-fed over a sorting table. Whole bunch pressed, with the free-run juice settled for two days before being gravity-fed into a combination of 228L and 300L barrels from Burgundian cooperage ranging in age from 3 to 6 years old. Alcoholic fermentation entirely carried out in barrel (only using natural ambient yeast) for 8–10 weeks. Cellar maintained very cold at about 10° Celsius (fermentation peaking at about 18°), then temperature dropped to 7°. Racked out of barrel after 9 months on the lees, assembled and settled with a light bentonite fining and no filtration until bottling.

Pairing suggestions

Salmon with roasted shiitakes and mushroom sauce, poultry, seafood or vegetarian dishes